Electrical fishing apparatus



(No Model.)

B. POPPOWITSOH. ELECTRICAL FISHING APPARATUS.

Patented July 3, 1894 W/ TNESSES:

' AM I ATTOHNFYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDXVARD.POPPOWITSOILOF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL Elsi-Hue APPARATUSL SPECIFItJATION forming part of Iletters Patent No. 522,352, dated July 3, 1894. Application filed March 22, 1894. Serial No. 504,635. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD POPPOWITSCH', a subject of the Emperor of A ustria-I-Iungary, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New .i'ork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Fishing Apparatus, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention has reference to an improved electric fishing-apparatus, which is adapted for trolling and otherfishing, and which indi cates by an electric alarm device whenever the hook is taken by a fish, so that the line and fish can be drawn in; and the invention consists of a fishing apparatus, comprising a sheet-metal or other box, a battery in said box, a spring-arm provided with an eyeshaped outer end, means for adjusting the tension of said arm, a contact-screw for the spring-arm, and conductingwires between the battery, alarm contaetscrews, and springarm, so that as soon as the spring-arm to which the line is applied is moved and placed in contact with the contact-screw, an alarm is given, and the line is hauled in by the fisherman. i The invention consists further of certain details of construction, which will be fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective View of my improved fishingapparatus,showing the same applied in position for use to the gunwale of a'boat or other suitable support. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 2'2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, with, the lid in open position, and showing the battery and its connection with the .contact-spring. Fig; 4 is a top view of my improved electric fishing-1 pparatus, with a portion of the topplate removed. 'Fig. 5 is a portion of. the exterior box, showing-the hinged compartment in which the battery is arranged, and Fig. 0

each package containing mica, glass or other transparent material, through which the electric-alarm device that is arranged in the box can be-readily seen. The box A is divided by a central longitude nal partition'a into two compartments, one compartment containing the electric-alarm device B, as shown in Fig. 2.

Thepther compartment is divided by a partition 0., arranged at right-angles to the partition a-, into a larger and a smallercompartment, the larger containing the battery D, wliilethe smaller compartment serves 'for' storing the chemicals, which are arranged in suitable packagesin the nature of. cartridges,

suiiicient for-supplying, in connection with a suitable quantity of Water, a sufficient amount of exciting liquid for filling the-battery.

The detachable line-guide O-is likewise stored, with the packages containing the battery-charges, in the small compartment, the rear side of the box 'A being closed by a hinged cover A which is attached to the body of said box by asuitable fastening-device A as shown in Fig. 1.

The bottom E of the compartment for the battery D is hinged, so that by opening the same, the battery can be readily moved out 8c of or into its compartment.

The battery is provided with a detachable top, to which the zincsare applied, while the body of the battery is made of suitable glass or other acid-resisting material, into which the exciting liquid is placed, the battery being of such size as to supply a currentsnfficient for one trip.

hen the battery is charged with the liquid, I it is replaced into its compartmentin the box, and moved up in the same untilthe bottom can be closed, so that the terminals (Z, d','on the cover of. the battery are made to abut against contact-springs d d at the top of the compartment for the battery, as shown in Fig.

The contact-springs d (F, are connected by wires or-metallic strips with binding-posts e, e, which are arranged at the top part of the compartmentin which the electric-alarm de-' [00 vice B is located. The posts 0 are connected by conducting-wires M M respectively with the electro-magnet of-the alarm-device B and with an insulated screw-nutf thatis supported in the wall of the box Aand provided with a screw-thread in which. is arranged a contact-screw f.

Below the contact-screw f and nut fis arranged an adj usting-screw f said adjustingscrew acting on a spring-arm F, which is attached to the wall of the box A and provided at its upper end with a socket 0' into which the lower tapering end or shank of the linegnide .C is inserted. The spring-arm F extends in upward direction into an opening 0 in the top of the'box A, but not beyond the same, so that there are no projecting parts which may be injured when the apparatus is packed up and carried to and fro.

The line-guide (J is provided at its upper end with an eye 0 that is formed by a few spiral convolutions into which the upper end isbent and through which the line is passed.

The electro-magnet of the alarm-device B is also connected by a wire M with the screwnut f of the adjusting-screw f -which latter serves to adjust the tension of the spring-arm F according as the device is to be set for catching large or small fish. As .soon as a bite takes place, the tension of the line moves the line-guide C, which is inserted into the upper end of the spring-arm F,toward the contactscrew f, so t at contact is formed by which the battery-c cult is closed and the alarmdevice operated. As soon as the signal is given, the line is hauled in and the fish removed from the hook. The line is then paid out again and the next bite takes place, and so on.

To the walls of the box are applied hinged wings w, which are provided with openings through which eye-screws s are passed for attaching the box to a gunwale or other snitabie support, as shown in Fig. 1. The wings w. are placed in line with the bottom of the box. Above the wing w in front of the line guide 0 is arranged a hinged and pointed brace 10, the point of which is pressed into the gunwale, or other part on which-the apparatus is supported, so that thereby a greater resistance against sudden strains is imparted and the box supported in firmer position on its support...

The eyes of the screws sqare connected by strings, so that after being used the same can be unscrewed and stored in the smaller compartment of the box A,in which the charges for the battery and the line-guide are likewise stored. The hinged wings w and brace 20' are then folded up alongside of thebox, as

shown in Fig; 3, so as to be taken away.

The apparatus described forms a convenient apparatus for catching fish, withoutbeing all the time at the line, the alarm indicating immediately whenever a fish is on the hook, provided that the tension of the spring-arm F is adjusted so that only an actual bite, and not the mere nibbling of the fish on the bait, produces contact and closes the circuit of the battery.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1-Tll6 combination with'an exterior storage-box, of an electric-alarm device attached therein, a battery arranged therein, a springarm attached to said box and provided with a line-guide, a screw for adjusting the tension of the spring-arm, and a contact-screw for forming contact with the spring-arm and closing the battery circuit, and electric connections between the battery, the alarm-device, the tension adjusting and contact-screws, substantially as set forth.

i2. An electric fishing-apparatus, eomprising an exterior box having a hinged cover at i one side, and means for locking the same, partitions for forming a larger, intermediate and smaller compartment in said box, an electric alarm devicelocated in alarger'compartment, a battery located in the intermediate compartment, aspring-arm arranged in the -larger compartment and provided with a socket at its upper end, aline-guide inserted in said socket and extending through an opening in the top of the box, a screw for adjusting the tension of the spring-arm, a contact screw for forming contact with the spring arm and electric connections between the battery, alarm-device and the tension and contact-screws, so that the alarm-device is rung as soon as, by the tension on the lineguide, the supporting spring-arm ofithe same is placed in contact with the contact-screw, substantially as set forth.

3. An electric fishing-apparatus, provided with hinged wings in line with the bottom of the apparatus and with a hinged and pointed brace above the front wing and screws for fastening the wings to a gunwale, or other support, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that IIclaim the foregoing as my invention Ihave signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- EDWARD IOPIOWITSCI-I.

Witnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, K. R. BRENNAN. 

